Carton loading machine



Dec. l5, 1953 c. R. swAFFoRD CARTON LOADING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 28, 1952 Dec. 15, 1953 c. R. swAFFoRD I 2,662,355

CARTON LOADING MACHINE Filed Feb. 28, 1952 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. l5, 1953 Filed Feb. 28, 1952 C. R. SWAFFORD CARTON LOADING MACHINE ll Sheets-Sheet 3 fra/6R25?? Dec. 15, 1953 c. R. swAFFoRD CARTON LOADING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 28, 1952 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 28, 1952 www QN QN NNN 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 28, 1952 Dec. 15, 1953 c. R. swAFFoRD CARTON LOADING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Feb. 28, 1952 Dec. l5, 1953 c. R. swAFFoRD CARTON LOADING MACHINE ll Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Feb. 28, 1952 C. R. SWAFFORD CARTON LOADING MACHINE Dec. 15, 1953 llSheets-Sheet 9 Filed Feb. 28, 1952 Dec. 15, 1953 c. R. swAFr-'ORD CARTON LOADING MACHINE l1 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Feb. 28, 1952 Dec. 15, 1953 C. R. SWAFFORD CARTON LOADING MACHINE l1 Sheets-Sheet l1 Filed Feb. 28, 1952 Patented Dec. l5, i953 UNITED STATES 2,662,356 CARTON LoADiNG MACHINE Carl R.. Swa'ffcrd, deceased, late of Philadelphia, Pa., by Verlon E. Swaliord, administrator, Franklin, N. C., assignor to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application February 28, 1952, Serial No. 274,002

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to packaging apparatus generally and more particularly to an apparatus for automatically feeding and erecting folded cartons and loading or assembling canned articles therein. y An important object of this invention is the provision of a packaging apparatus embodying means for automatically feeding collapsed or folded cartons, erecting said cartons to receive canned articles and loading or assembling said articles therein.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a fully automatic continuous motion apparatus for loading or assembling canned articles in open ended cartons.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of the character set forth which is simple in construction, highly eicent in operation and capable of a high rate of production.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The present invention will be described in relation to a particular type of carton which has been adopted in the trade for packaging iilled, flange type cans, wherein the said cans are ar ranged within the carton in sidebyside in-line relationship. The carton is of generally rectangular shape with open ends having tabs at the top and bottom of the open ends, which tabs when folded inwardly engage the upper and lower chimes or anges of the outer cans in the carton thereby locking the cans while they protrude from the open ends of the carton. It will be understood, however, the invention may be utilized for assembling articles in other types of containers or cartons and that the present description is merely illustrative of one form in which the invention may be practiced.

According to the invention there is provided an apparatus embodying means for feeding collapsed cartons, one to each of a series of carriers movable along a path of travel, means for erecting the cartons as they move cn said carriers, can guide means on opposite sides of the paths of travel of the carriers, means for delivering cans to the can guide means, means carried on each of the carriers for opening gate means when a carton is moved into registration with the guide means, and means carried on the carriers adapted to engage the leading can in each of the guide means to urge the leading can into an open end a.

Fig. l is a side elevational view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a front end elevational view of the apparatus,

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the apparatus with the carton feed mechanism omitted,

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on line 5 5 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on line 'i-'l of Fig. 2,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary View similar to Fig. '7, but showing the parts in different positions of operation,

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 9-9 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 10 is a, cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on line ltl-l of Fig. 5,

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view looking in the direction of the arrows I l-E l of Fig. 9,

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken substan- -23 tially on line l 2 1 2 of Fig. 11,

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the entry of a can into a carton,

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on line I4-lfl of Fig. 5,

:io Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a carton in collapsed condition,

Fig. 16 is a perspective View showing a carton in the process of being erected,

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a fully erected carton, and

Fig. 18 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating an assembly of cans within the carton and the manner in which they are secured therein.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus comprises a suitable frame indicated generally by the numeral 2t, the said frame being formed of side members 2l and 22 joined together by a plurality of transverse members suitably located to provide a rigid frame structure. Considering iirst the carton feed means, a hopper, indicated generally by the numeral 23 is formed of members 2li and 2t spacedly arranged in opposed complementa] relation to provide a channel-like structure having a relatively wide longitudinal slot in the bottom thereof. The hopper 23 is pivotally supported at the forward end, on a transverse shaft 28 carried on the frame, by means of brackets 23 depending from the members Zfl and 26. The hopper is adjustably supported at the rearward enrl by means of upright members which rest on a cross member on the frame, these members each being slotted as at 30 to accommodate a stud 3l projecting laterally from the members 2t and 26. As will be apparent, the hopper is inclined towards its delivery end and the angle of inclination may be adjusted as desired. A guide member 32 is arranged above the hopper and is supported by overhanging brackets 33 which are attached to the hopper member 26. The end of the guide member 32 is bent downwardly as at 32a and is adapted to engage the upper edges of the cartons A as they move to the delivery end of the hopper to dispose the cartons at an angle slanting forwardly, as illustrated in Fig. '1. Additionally, rollers 34 are mounted one one each side of the hopper, the rollers serving to align the cartons properly and also to assist the guide member 32 in disposing the cartons at an angle slanting forwardly.

Mounted on the shaft 26 below the delivery end of the hopper 23 is a channeled guide member 36 and supported in said member is a retarder tongue 31. This retarder tongue is connected to an adjusting screw 31a by means of which the retarder tongue may bey adjusted so that its end is disposed, in desired spaced relation to a combing wheel 38 supported for rotation on shaft 32 suitably journaled in the frame members 2 i. and 22. As is apparent by reference to Fig. '1, the end of the retarder tongue 31 extends into the space between the hopper members 24 and 26 so that the lower edges of the leading cartons are actually supported on the retarder tongue. A retarder yoke 4l formed of parallel members embracing the guide member 36 is pivotally sup ported on the member 36 and carries a pair of retarding rollers 42 between the forward ends with a roller on each side of the retarder tongue 31. At the rearward end of the yoke 4I. the members are connected by a cross member 43. A spring 44 supported on the cross member 43 serves to urge the retarder rollers 42 into engagement with the combing wheel 36. Mounted on a shaft 46 supported by lugs 45 attached to the hopper members 24 and 26 are a pair of guide fingers 41 arranged on opposite sides of the combing wheel- These ngers extend to a point below the retarder tongue 31 and each has anv end portion bent at a right angle. Mounted on each end of the shaft 46 is a lever 48 to which is connected a spring 49. The fingers 41 and levers 48 are each rigidly secured to shaft 46 so the springs 49 bias the guide ngers 41 in a direction to engage the leading carton in the hopper and :u

bracket 5.2 mounted on a frame member is arranged to extend slightly into the space between the hopper members 2.4 and 26 so as to engage the lower edges of cartons within the hopper. The said roller is driven by a belt 53 which is t; turn driven by a pulley 54 mounted on shaft cartons toward the delivery end of the hopper. A. weight roller Ia is. disposed in the hopper 23 and abuts the rearmost carton therein to urge the cartons disposed forwardly thereof in the direction of the delivery end of the hopper.

The combing wheel 38 is recessed for a portion of its peripheral surface, as atV 56, to accommodate a strip of resilient friction material 51l such as sponge rubber or the like, the said strip being anchored only at one point as at 58. Thus, as the combing wheel 38" is rotated in the direction of the arrow (Fig. '7) the free end portion of the stripk 51r isA urged by centrigual force. outwardly and away from the wheel 38 so that a Rotation of the roller 5| serves to urge the 4 major portion of the said stripv is caused to strike against the leading carton in the hopper thereby imparting to it a downward force and effecting displacement of the carton from the hopper to a carrier 66 disposed below.

Journaled in suitable bearing blocks supported at the front and rear ends of the frame structure are shafts 59 and 6|, each carrying a pair of spaced sprocket wheels 62 on which are carried a pair of parallel sprocket chains 63. To each of the said sprocket chains 63 is connected at regularly spaced intervals spaced lugs 64 depending from a carrier indicated generally by the numeral 66. Two pairs of such lugs depend from each carrier and each pair of lugs embraces a link in the sprocket chains 63. A plurality of carriers are provided and each carrier 66 comprises a bottom 61 having `a shallow recess 68 corresponding to the bottom of the carton. The sides 65 of the bottom 61 extend outwardly beyond the sprocket chains 63 and slope downwardly to form camming. portions, as illustrated more particularly in Figs. l0 and 13. A. relatively low front wall 1l extends upwardly from the front edge of the bottom 61 and a rear wall 12 extends upwardly from the rear edge of thebottom 61 in parallel relation to the front wall 1l and perpendicularly to the bottom 61. The distance between the front and rear walls 1I and. 12 respectively, is equal to the width of the carton and, as will be clearly seen by reference to the drawings, each carrier is open at the top and at both sides. A pair of guide strips 13 attached to the rear wall 12 extend rearwardly and downwardly from the top of the rear wall 12 to a point slightly above the front wall of the succeeding carrier. Projecting from each side edge of the rear. wall 12 are upper and lower arms 14 and 15 respectively. The said. arms are spaced vertically and are angled slightly forwardly extending beyond the bottom 61, as illustrated. clearly in Fig. 5. Each of the carriers is provided with a depending bracket 16 which supports a roller 11 below the center of the carrier. Supported from a bracket 18 rearwardly of the rear wall of the carrier is a roller 19. The rollers 11 and. 19 embrace a longitudinally extending rail 8| which. is disposed medially between the runs of the sprocket chains 63. The rail 8l serves both as a guide and support for the carriers. A rail` 82 is disposed under each of the sprocket chains 63 and affords support for the upper runs of the chains against sagging un-der the weight of the carriers and the articles supported thereon. Another rail 83 vertically spaced below the rail 8l is engaged by the rollers 11 and 18 in the lower run of the sprocket chains.

Arranged below the hopper 23 and slightly rearwardly of the delivery end thereof are a pair of carton set-up elements 84 suitably supported so as to overlie the path of travel of the carriers. Each carton set-up element has a relatively broad fiat face with the leading ends 86 sloping' upwardly, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. Each of the carton set-up elements is provided with a notch or groove 81 extending transversely across the face thereof, such grooves being in alignment with each other. Resiliently supported substantially in the same horizontal plane as the carton set-up elements by cross bar is a hold down.

shoe 88 which serves to maintain. the carton, when erected as hereinafter described, in erected condition in its continued travel.

suitably supportedv on the' frame below the combing wheel 38 are a pair of spaced. standards 9|, each of which has three inwardly projecting arms 92, 93 and Si in vertically spaced relation and on which arms are carried guide elements 96, 97 and 98 respectively. By reference to Fig. 2, it is apparent that projections are so spaced as to provide for clearance of the side arms 'I4 and 75 of the carriers in their travel. The guide members serve to align the cartons in proper position as they are delivered to the carriers and moved into engagement with the setup elements S4., Supported on the guide elements 96 are camming members $9 which are adapted to engage only the upper tabs of a carton as the carton is moved rearwardly on a carrier to effect elevation of the carton A substantially to the position illustrated by the broken lines in Fig. '7 so that it is brought into engagement with the carton set-up elements 34 whereby the leading edge of the carton may engage in the transvers notch 8l in the set-Lip elements.

Suitably supported on brackets |l| below the forward portions of the set-up elements 8d and at a level substantially equal to that of the bottom 61 of the carrie-rs are a pair of lower tab plows |32 which rise progressively upwardly from the leading to the trailing ends thereof. The said tab plows serve to engage the lower tabs of the carton as the carton is moved in a carrier past the plows and to fold the lower tabs upward y to assume substantially vertical positions. tioned rearwardly of the lower tab plows |62, one on each side of the sprocket chains 53, are a pair of tuck-in wheels |133 which, as will be hereinafter more fully explained, are adapted to engage the lower tabs which are already upwardly folded and further fold the tabs inwardly of the cartons flat against the bottom walls thereof. The tuck-in wheels each are supported on a shaft Hifi which is journaled for rotation in an E36 pivotally supported on a bracket |31. As will be apparent by reference to Fig. l0, the tuck-in wheel |03 is freely movable in and out of the open ends of the carton to apply pressure to the lower tabs, and they are normally urged to swing in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig, 10, l

spring i3 is carried on the bracket |01, the buffer i element being adapted to engage a striking plate lill carried on the lower end of the arm |56. Additionally, a stop element l in the form of a threaded screw is carried in the lower end of the bracket and is adapted to engage the striking plate I4 of the arm |56.

Arranged above the tuck-in wheels 5% are a pair of upper tab breaker or folder bars lll', the said breaker bars being spaced apart substantially the length of the carton and being inclined downwardly and lying in the path of the upper tabs as the cartons are moved past such breaker bars. These breaker serve to fold the Lipper tabs downwardly to assume substantially vertical positions.

Mounted on the shaft 5S for rotation therewith are three conveyor belt pulleys HS, H9 and |2l3 respectively. Pulleys illiand ESS are disposed in spaced relation to each other on one side of sprocket wheels 52 and the pulley I2!) is disposed on the other side of the sprocket wheels. Similar pulleys similarly identied and arranged are mounted on shaft 9i at the opposite end of the frame. Corresponding pairs of pulleys are adapted to support endless conveyor belts |2i, |22 and |23 respectively. Since the sprocket wheels S2 are mounted on the saine shaft with the pulleys H8, llll and ld, it is apparent that the travel of the conveyor belts is synchronized with that of the sprocket chains.

suitably supported on the frame are U-shaped brackets iM which embrace portions of the upper runs of the conveyor belts. These brackets are provided with shoulders |25 on which are supported plates |25, which underlie the upper runs of the belts to afford support against sagging under the weight of the cans C carried by the conveyor belts. Supported by the upper portions of the brackets 2li, one on each side of each of the conveyor belts, a; guide members l2?, |23 and 52S respectively. These guide members maintain the cans carried on the conveyor belts in single le relation. .As will be seen by reference to Fig. 5, the guide members i253 and |29 immediately adjacent the conveyor chains are arranged symmetrically with the rearward end portions |23@ and Killa being angularly directed inwardly so as to deflect the cans in the direction of the carriers moving therebetween. The outer guide member l2? is similarly formed and serve to direct the cans toward the carriers but at a point beyond the guide member I 2S. Arranged under the angularly directed end portions l2'la, Ila and i'ila of the can guide members are plates |3, |32 and |33 which are disposed at substantially the same horizontal level as the upper runs of the conveyor belts. These plates form the bottoms for the guide members. The outer ends of the plates are adjacent to the inner edges of the conveyor belts so that the cans may readily pass from the conveyor belts on the plates. As will be seen particularly by reference to Fig. 5, the inner ends of each of the bottom plates are recessed or cut away as at itil to accommodate a gate element or can stop, indicated generally by the numeral |35. The conveyor beit |22 beyond the angularly directed portion |28@ of the guide member l2@ passes under the plate |3|.

The gate element or canstop |36 is shown in greater detail in Figs. 1l and 12 and comprises an arcuately formed gate portion |37 which normally extends above the plane of an associated bottom plate such as i3 |32 and l33 so as to provide a stop means to arrest the movement of cans on the plate. The gate element is also provided with an integral cam portion which adapted to be engaged by a lower arm 'i5 of a carrier |36, as will be hereinafter described. The gate element is pivotally supported on shaft |39 carried on a bracket itl so that it may be rocked about the axis of the shaft. A spring biased pin it?. lidably supported in. the bracket normally abuts the under side of the gate element and serves to urge the same to upright or stopping position, as shown in Fig. ll. Three of such gate elements |35 are provided, each in association with one of the can guide members. Arranged over each of the can guide members substantially along a median thereof are hold-down bars |40 adapted to bear on the top surfaces of the cans as they are moved in the can guide members to prevent any tipping or inisalignrnent resulting from pressure of the cans against each other.

Supported on a post |43 disposed adjacent the discharge end of the can guide members l are a ypair of camming .elements 44 and 1.46 shaped substantially as illustrated in Fig. 5. These camming elements are spaced vertically as illustrated `in Fig. 6 to provide clearance for the movement of the arms 14 and 'l5 on the carriers. The leadiing portion |4rla of the kupper camming element |44 which is disposed above the can guide memibers |28 extends into the path of travel .of the cans, as shown clearly in Fig. 5, so as to cause the leading can C to tip in a direction towards a carrier as Vit passes by. The trailing portion .|4'4b of the camming element |44 extends progressively inwardly towards the carriers and terminates in a portion |440 parallel to the run of the carriers. The lower camming element |46 is formed substantially like the trailing portion |441) of the upper camming element but does not have a portion corresponding to the leading portion of the upper camming element.

Supported on post |41 opposite to the post 243 are vertically spaced upper and lower camming elements |48 and |45 which are shaped substantially as illustrated in Fig, 5. The upper cam- Im'ing element |48 is provided with a leading por- 'tion |48a which extends similarly into the path of travel of the cans in the can guide means |29. Similarly, as in the iirst instance, the cans are caused to be tipped by the camming element |48 in the direction of the carriers. The trailing portion lb of the camming element |48 extends gradually inwardly towards the carriers but to va lesser distance than the corresponding portion of the camming elements 44 and |45. The lower camming element |49 is shaped substantially like l the trailing portion oi the upper element |43 and is in vertical alignment therewith.

Supported on post [5I is a third pair oi' camming elements |52 and |53 associated with the can guide member |21. These camming elements, similarly as those above described, are arranged in spaced vertical relation and the upper camming element |52 is provided with a leading portion |52a which extends up to but not into the path of travel of the cans in the guide member |27. The trailing portion |52l2` of the camming element |52 extends inwardly toward the carriers but terminates at a distance from the carriers identical with that of the camming elements .|48 and |49. The lower camming element |53 is vshaped like the trailing portion of the upper element and is vertically aligned therewith.

Supported on the rearward end of the frame structure are a pair of retaining members |55 which are shaped, as illustrated in Fig. 1, substantially in the form of a semi-circle and 'are anchored at the top to a cross member |54 of the frame. Additionally, the retaining members |55 are secured at their lower portions by brackets |56 projecting from the side members of the frame. The inner arcuate surface of the retaining members corresponds substantially to the arc described by the upper edges of the cartons in traveling from upright position to inverted position around the axis of the shaft 6|. The retaining members serve to prevent the cartons -.from falling out of the carriers in the course of this inversion.

Positioned adjacent the lower ends of the retaining members |55 is a pulley |51 supported on a shaft |58 carried in bearing blocks |59 mounted on the fra-me members. A similar pulley `|5| is similarly mounted on a shaft |62 at the forward end of the frame structure but at a somewhat lower position and a discharge con- .'Veyor belt |63 passes over the pulleys with the upper run of the belt traveling inthe direction of the .arrow indicated in Fig. l. |iihe said belt serves :to carry off .assembled cartons as they drop irom the inverted carriers which pass directly over the conveyor belt. While the cartons will drop by gravity from the carriers to the conveyor belt, in order to avoid the possibility of a carton adhering to a carrier, a pair of stripper arms |64 suitably mounted, and arranged, one .on each side of the carriers is provided. The stripper arms are inclined downwardly and are adapted to engage portions of the cans projecting outwardly from the cartons and thus force the cartons from .the recesses in the carriers so that they drop by gravity onto the conveyor belt |63. As will be .apparent by reference to Fig. 1, the stripper arms are so disposed that the lower arms 'I5 of the carriers which in the inverted position are vabove the upper arms 'i4 easily clear the said stripper members. Arranged under the upper arrn of the discharge conveyor belt |63 is a supporting plate |66 which sustains the weight or" the llecl cartons and prevents the upper run of the belt from sagging. The discharge conveyor belt |53 is maintained in taut condition on the pulleys `|5'| and 15'! by an idler pulley I6? carried on a shaft 168 suitably supported on adjustable brackets |159 monuted on the frame members.

The driving means 'for the apparatus comprises a motor suitably-connectedto a variable speed controller '|72 which is in turn connected through a sprocket chain i213 to a sprocket wheel '|14 mounted on shat 6|. Rotation oi the shaft 6| drives the sprocket chains 63 and belts |21, |22 and |23. The combing wheel is ydriven by ya sprocket chain |76 running over sprocket wheels carried on shafts 39 and 59 respectively. 'The discharge conveyor belt i553 Vis driven by chain 'H3 which passes over a sprocket wheel 'Vil on shaft 58. An idler pulley Il'l mounted on the frame serves to direct the sprocket chain over the sprocket wheel |17.

The operation of the packing apparatus should be apparent from the foregoing description, but

Vbrieiy stated it is as follows:

A quantity of cartons A in collapsed condition is placed within the hopper 23 with the bottom edges or" the cartons resting on the bottom of the hopper. The cartons are urged by the roller weight l5 |a to the delivery end of the hopper and Aalso by the action of the roller 5| on the 'bottom 'edges of the cartons. The cartons in the hopper are caused to assume an inclined position as illustrated in Fig. 7 by reason o the member' v32. With each rotation of the combing wheel 3E, the resilient member 5l is caused to bear vagainst the leading carton in the hopper and to displace the same from the hopper downwardly 'into the space below the combing wheel. In synchronism with the displacement of the carton, a carrier 86 is moved into position to receive the carton. The carton may drop rst on the guide members I3 of the carrier preceding the one intended to receive the carton. Thus, the carton is supported in inclined position on the guide members |3 of the preceding carrier with the lower edge of the carton resting against the rear wall 'I2 of the carrier, as illustrated in Eig. 7. As the carrier advances in the direction of the arrow, the upper tabs of the carton are caused to engage the guide members B9 which act to elevate the carton substantially to the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 7 so that the leading edge of the carton is caused to engage the lgroove "81 in each of the carton set-up elements 84. As

9 illustrated in Fig. 16, continued movement of the carrier with the leading edge of the carton held in the groove against movement causes the carton to be erected to the rectangular condition illustrated in Fig. 17. The hold-down bar bearing on the top of the carton assures the maintenance or" this erected condition for the performance of other operations. As the carton advances further, the lower tabs are engaged by the plows |62 which cause the tabs to be turned upwardly to assume substantially vertical positions. As the cartons pass the tuck-in rollers |23 the said rollers are caused to enter into the open ends ol' the cartons to press the lower tabs against the bottom wall of the carton, as illustrated in Fig. 10. Continued movement oi the carton brings the upper tabs into engagement with breaker bars I Il which cause the upper tabs to be folded downwardly at least to assure that the tabs extend downwardly inclined from the plane oi the top wall of the carton. It will be understood that a series or cans C wiil have been placed on the conveyor belts |25, |22 and |23 so as to be carried by the said belts to the respective can guide members |21, |23 and |253 in continuous lines. Thus, prior to a carrier moving into registration with any of the can guide members there is already disposed in each of said can guide members a leading can in position to be acted upon, as will be presently described. Each of the leading cans is retained against further movement by the gate elements it associated with. a respective can guide member. As the carrier moves into close proximity to the cppositely disposed can guide members |27 and |28, the lower arms l of the carrier engage the camming portions |33 of the gate elements and eect downward pivotal movement of the gate so that the cans may move oir of the supporting plates |322 and |33. Each can is then engaged by both o1 the arms 'I4 and l5 which urge the can against the respective camming elements |44 and |518 so that the can is caused to follow the contour of the said camming elements and be progressively urged into the open end of the carton which is then in proper registration with the can guide members. During such movement the can in each of the guiding means is caused to be tipped forwardly, as illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13, with the lower chime engaging the camming portion t5 projecting from each of the carriers. The top chime of the can rst engages the upper tab and enters into the open end of the carton while folding the tab upwardly. Thereafter, the can is caused to be elevated along the camming portion 65 until the lower chime of the can reaches the top edge of the said camming portion. At this point the axis of the can is substantially vertical and the lower chime engages the lower tab. As the carrier continues to move, the camming elements |44 and M23 urge the cans from opposite sides within the carton. It will be apparent, however, that the camming element |44 which extends in closer proximity to the carrier will urge the can on which it is operating almost entirely into the carton while the opposite camming element |48 only urges the respective can about halfway into the carton to a point where the tabs when folded-in abut the upper and lower chimes of the can, thereby to retain the said can from being inadvertently displaced outwardly. As the carrier continues to move along its path of travel, the gate element associated with can guide member |27 is caused to be pivoted downwardly, in the manner herenbefore explained, and the leading can in the said can guide members is engaged by the arms 74 and of the carrier and urged against the camming elements 52 and 53 whereby the can is urged in a direction to enter into the carton. It will be apparent that the latter can must nrst push into the carton the previously inserted can before it can itself enter` in the open end of the carton. The camming elements H2 and |53 continue to act on the last can until the preceding can assumes a position substantially in the center of the carton while the last can assumes a position corresponding to the can on the opposite side of the carton wherein the upper and lower flaps of the carton engage with the chimes of the can 'to retain the same against displacement. In fully assembled condition the cans assume the positions in a carton, as illustrated in Fig. 18.

The fully loaded carton is then carried in the carrier around the sprocket wheels at the rearward end of the apparatus, the loaded cartons being supported against displacement from the carriers by the retaining members |55. The carton then is brought around to inverted position and will normally iall by gravity onto the discharge conveyor belt |63 which will carry it to a discharge point at the iront end of the apparatus. In the event that the carton does not itseirn fall by gravity, the stripper members |64 engage the sections of the cans projecting from the carton and cause the carton to be stripped from the carrier and to drop on the conveyor beit. The cartons may be taken from the conveyor discharge belt by any suitable means, such as for example a conveyor belt.

Since many changes and variations of the disclosed embodiment of the invention may be made without departing from the scope of the inventive concept, it is not intended to limit the invention otherwise than as required by the appended claims, with due regard to the spirit as well as the literal wording thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A packaging apparatus for opening and erecting cardboard cartons and loading cans into said cartons, the combination comprising a plurality or" carriers movable in spaced relation along a path of travel, carton feed means arranged to deliver a collapsed carton successively to each of the carriers, means for erecting and opening each carton as it is moved on a carrier, a can guide means on each side of the path of travel 0f the carriers, the guide means being oppositely directed, at least a third can guide means beyond one of the rst mentioned can guide means, means for delivering cans in succession to each of the guide means, gate means associated with each of the can guide means for arresting movement of cans through the guide means, cam means associated with each of the guide means, means on each of the carriers for opening a respective gate means as a carton is moved into registration with the guide means, means on the carriers engageable with the leading can in respective guide means, first to urge the cans from the oppositely directed can guide means into engagement with respective cam means whereby said cans are moved simultaneously into opposite open ends of said carton, said means on the carriers thereafter being engageable with the leading can in the third can guide means to similarly move such leading can into the correspending end of the carton.

2. A packaging apparatus for opening and aecasee 1l erecting cardboard cartons having tabs extending from the open ends and loading cans into the erected cartons, the combination comprising a plurality of carriers arranged in spaced relation and movable along a path of travel, carton feed means arranged to deliver a collapsed carton successively to each of the carriers, means for erecting and opening a carton as it is moved in a carrier, means for folding the carton tabs in- Wardly, can guide means on opposite sides of the path of travel of the carriers, means for delivering cans in succession to each of the guide means, gate means for intermittently arresting the movement of the cans through the guide means, means on the carriers for opening the gate means when a carton is moved into registration with the guide means, cam means associated with the guide means and other cam means associated with each of the carriers, means on the carriers engageable with the leading can in a guide means to urge the can into engagement with respective cam means whereby the can is tipped forwardly in the direction of its movement and moved into an open end of a carton.

3. A packaging apparatus for opening and erecting cardboard cartons and loading cans into such cartons, the combination comprising a plurality of carriers movable in spaced relation along a path of travel, carton feed means arranged to deliver a collapsed carton successively to each of the carriers, means for erecting and opening a carton as the same is moved in a carrier, can guide means on opposite sides of the path of travel of the carriers, means for delivering cans in succession to each of the can guide means, gate means for arresting movement oi the cans through the guide means, cam means associated with the guide means, means on each of the carriers for opening the gate means as a carton is moved into registration with the guide means and other means on the carriers engageable with the leading can in the guide means to urge the can into engagement with the cam means whereby the can is moved into an open vend of the carton.

d. An apparatus for use in loading cans into erected, open end cartons comprising in combination a plurality of carriers movable in spaced relation along a path of travel, each of the carriers being adapted to support an erected carton, can guide means on opposite sides of the path of travel of the carriers, means for delivering cans in succession to each of the guide means, means for moving cartons successivelyin registration with the can guide means, gate means for intermittently arresting movement of the cans through the can guide means, cam means associated with the can guide means, and means on the carriers engageable withthe leading can in each of the guide means to urge each of the cans into engagement with respective cam means whereby the cans are successively tipped forwardly and each moved successively into an open end of the carton.

5. An apparatus for use in loading cans into erected cartons having at least one open end, comprising in combination a plurality of carriers movable in spaced relation along a path of travel, each of the carriers being adapted to support an erected carton, at least one can guide means adjacent the path of travel of the carriers, means for delivering cans in succession to the can guide means,'means vfor moving cartons succesively into registration with the can guide means with the open ends of the cartons directed towards the can guide means, .gate means for intermittently arresting movement of the cans through the can guide means, means .for opening the gate means when a carton is moved into registration with the guide means, cam means associated with the can guide means and means on the carriers engageable with the leading can in the can guide means to urge the can into engagement with the cam means whereby the can is moved into the open end of the carton.

6. In an apparatus for loading articles into cartons, carton feed means comprising a hopper formed with a longitudinal slot in the bottom thereof, said hopper being inclined downwardly v toward the delivery end and being adapted to contain a plurality of collapsed cartons stacked edgewise, a retarder finger projecting throughithe slot into the hopper at the delivery end thereof, a combing wheel arranged at the delivery end of the hopper in close proximity to the retarder finger, the combing wheel being mounted for rotation about an axis extending transversely of the hopper and carrying a friction element on its periphery, and means for driving the combing wheel whereby the friction element with each rotation of the combing wheel is caused to engage the leading carton in the hopper and to displace the same downwardly from the hopper.

7. A packaging apparatus for opening and erecting cartons having tabsextending from top and bottom walls at the open ends and loading cans into the erected cartons, the combination comprising a plurality of carriers arranged Vin spaced relation and movable along a path of travel, each of the carriers having downwardly inclined supporting means extending rearwardly thereof, carton feed means arranged to deliver a collapsed carton successively to each of the carriers with the lower edge of each carton resting on a carrier andthe carton supported in forwardly inclined position on the supporting means of the carrier immediately preceding, means disposed adjacent the path of travel of the carriers arranged to engage the leading edge of each of the cartons and to co-act with themoving carriers to open the carton to fully erected condition, means for maintaining the cartons in erected condition vduring movement of the carriers, means disposed along the path of travel of said carriers and engageable with the tabs to fold them inwardly, can guide means on opposite sides of the path of travel of the carriers, means for delivering cans insuccession to each of the vguide means, gate means 'for intermittently arresting the movement of the cans through the guide means, means on the carriers for opening the gate means when a carton is moved into registration with the guide means, cam means associated with the guide lmeans and other cam means associated with each of the carriers, means on the carriers engageable with the leading can in a guide means to urge the can into engagement with respective cam means whereby the can is tipped forwardly in the direction of its movement and moved into an open vend of a carton.

8. A packaging apparatus for opening and erecting cartons and loading cans into the cartons, the combination comprising a plurality of carriers supported at regularly spaced intervals on an endless conveyor means having upper and lower runs with the carriers in the upper run assuming anupright position and the carriers in the lower i run assuming an inverted position, carton feed means arranged to deliver a collapsed carton successively to each of the carriers, means for erecting and opening each carton as the same is moved by a carrier, two can guide means disposed one on each side of the conveyor means, at least a third can guide means beyond one of the rst mentioned can guide means, a conveyor belt communicating with each of the can guide means for deliver* ing cans thereto, gate means associated with each of the can guide means for arresting movement of cans through the guide means, cam means associated with each of the guide means, means on each of the carriers for opening a respective gate means as a carton is moved into registration with the guide means, means on the carriers engageable with the leading can in respective guide means rst to urge the cans from the opposltely directed can guide means into engagement with respective cam means whereby the cans are moved simultaneously into opposite open ends of the carton, said means on the carriers thereafter being engageable with the leading can in the third can guide means to similarly move the can into the corresponding end of the carton, and means disposed below the lower run of the carrier conveyor means to receive and convey loaded cartons which drop from the inverted carriers.

9. A packaging apparatus for opening and erecting cartons having tabs extending from top and bottom walls at the open ends and loading cans into the erected cartons, the combination comprising a plurality of carriers supported at regularly spaced intervals on an endless conveyor means having upper and lower runs with the carriers in the upper run assuming an upright position and the carriers in the lower run assuming an inverted position, carton feed means arranged to deliver a collapsed carton successively to each of the carriers, means for erecting i" and opening a carton as the same is moved by a carrier, means along the path of travel of the carriers for folding said tabs inwardly, a can guide means on each side of the conveyor means, a conveyor belt communicating with each of the can guide means for delivering cans thereto, gate means for intermittently arresting the movement of the cans through the guide means, means on the carriers for opening the gate means when a carton is moved into registration with the guide means, cam means associated with the guide means and other cam means associated with each of the carriers, means on the carriers engageable with the leading can in a guide means to urge a can into engagement with respective cam means whereby the can is tipped forwardly in the direction of its movement and moved into an open end of a carton, and means disposed below the lower run of the carrier conveyor means to receive and convey loaded cartons which drop from the vinverted carriers.

10. A packaging apparatus for opening and erecting cartons having tabs extending from top and bottom walls at the open ends and loading cans into said erected cartons, the combination comprising a plurality of carriers supported at spaced intervals on an endless conveyor means having upper and lower runs with the carriers in the upper run assuming an upright position and the carriers in the lower run assuming an inverted position, each of the carriers having downwardly inclined supporting means extending rearwardly thereof, carton feed means arranged to deliver a collapsed carton successively to each of the carriers with the lower edge of each carton resting on a carrier and the carton disposed in a forwardly inclined position on the supporting means of the carrier immediately preceding, means along the path of travel of the carriers arranged to engage the leading edge of a collapsed carton and to co-act with a moving carrier to open the carton to fully erected condition. means for maintaining the cartons in erected condition during movement of the carriers, means disposed along the path of travel of the carriers and engageable with the tabs to fold the same inwardly, a can guide means on each side of the conveyor means, a conveyor belt communieating with each of the can guide means for delivering cans thereto, gate means for intermittently arresting the movement of the cans through the guide means, means on the carriers for opening the gate means when a carton is moved into registration with the guide means, cam means associated with the guide means and other cam means associated with each of the carriers, means on the carriers engageable with the leading can in a guide means to urge the can into engagement with respective cam means whereby the can is tipped forwardly in the direction of its movement and moved into an open end of a carton, and means disposed below the lower run of the carrier conveyor means to receive and convey assembled cartons which drop from the inverted carriers.

11. A packaging apparatus for opening and erecting cartons having tabs extending from top and bottom walls at the open ends and loading cans into the erected cartons, the combination comprising a plurality of carriers supported at spaced intervals on an endless conveyor means, carton feed means arranged to deliver a collapsed carton successively to each of said carriers, means for erecting and opening a carton as the same is moved by a carrier, means for folding the tabs inwardly, can guide means on opposite sides of the path of travel of the carriers, means for delivering cans in succession to each of the guide means, each of the carriers having a pair of vertically spaced arms extending laterally from the side edges thereof, a gate element pivotally mounted at the end of each of the guide means for arresting the movement of cans through the guide means, the gate element having a camming portion, the lower arms of the carriers being adapted to engage said camming portions to move the gate element downwardly when a carton is moved into substantial registration with a can guide means, cam means associated with the guide means, the arms on the carriers being engageable with the leading cans in the guide means to urge the cans into engagement with respective cam means whereby the cans are individually tipped forwardly in the direction of their respective movement and individually moved into an open end of a carton.

VERLON E. SWAFFORD, Administrator of the estate of Carl R. Swajord,

deceased.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 767,395 Doble Aug. 16, 1904 1,873,059 Smith Aug. 23, 1932 2,521,996 Ray Sept. 12, 1950 2,570,146 Mettler Oct. 2, 1951 

